Theories of Crime: Exploring Classical and Sociological Perspectives

1. Department of Criminal Justice California State University - Bakersfield CRJU 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice Dr. Abu-Lughod, Reem Ali Theories of Crime

2. Intro: • Demonology • Supernatural forces • Religion and the role of Church • Trial by ordeal; guilt or innocence. Today’s perception of GOD, e.g. Andrea Yates Classical School of Criminology • Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham • Free will • Severity of punishment • The “cause” of crime

3. Cesare Beccaria • On Crimes and Punishment (1738-1794) • His 9 Principles • Today: right to confront accusers, speedy trials, presumption of innocence, right not to testify against oneself Bentham • “utilitarianism” theory • Views on pain and pleasure • 4 factors to be considered: duration, intensity, certainty/uncertainty, propinquity or remoteness

4. Today’s shift to focus on policies ands social circumstances • The transition to the Positivist School of Criminology • Going beyond free will SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF CRIME • The environment? The Chicago School • Shaw and McKay • Social disorganization • Curran and Renzetti: not necessarily ethnic ort racial minorities , but deteriorated neighborhoods, economically disadvantaged, weak social norms

5. Differential Association Theory • Edwin Sutherland (1883-1950) • Association with others, but how does it take place? Differential Association and Behaviorism • Aker borrowed from Sutherland and incorporated behavior • Operant conditioning • Positive/negative reinforcement • Modeling others

6. Strain Theory Robert Merton Influenced by Emile Durkheim Anomie and normlessness Merton (unequal access to attain goals in society). SO WHAT? 5 modes of adaptation

7. Neutralization Theory • Justification of behavior • Sykes and Matza’s 5 techniques (denial) Critical Sociological Theories of Crime • Addressing different issues of crime • Critical Theory: social justice as a legitimate end • Distribution of power in society • How power reflect the role of the CJ system • “conflict” or “radical”

8. Marxism • Karl Marx (1818-1883) • Social Theorist: communism reflection • Marx’s critique of capitalism and its impact on social justice • Argued (after studying capitalism system in Europe) that owners of means of production paid workers poorly and used government to pass laws that prevented reform • One with econ power controlled system • Institutions (churches, schools, etc…) under control of owner class • “false consciousness”

9. Solution in response to “false consciousness” • Social class and power in society; corporate versus street crimes GENDER AND JUSTICE • Male versus female subjects • Feminist movements in 1960s • FEMINISM/FEMINIST views Curran & Renzetti identify 3 ways crime can be perceived from feminist views: 1. LIBERAL FEMINISM and criminology • 2 issues: 1) power for accomplishment versus gender 2) behavioral approaches among men and women • The opportunity for women to commit crime 2. RADICAL FEMINIST crim • Sexism in a patriarchal society • Rape, pornography • Are we addressing their concerns?

10. 3. SOCIALIST FEM crim • Social class and gender as a disadvantaged status • Social control as a reason for deviance and violence • What if race becomes a factor? • Feminist perspective as a social movement 4. CRITICAL RACE T • Overrepresentation of people of color in CJS • “ we are as nation of laws and not of men” • Legitimizing white supremacy and oppression of the weaker class INTEGRATED T • Bridging together different T and disciplines • Possible research designs • Social context within which crime exists